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CONFERENCES sponsored by drug companies are usually awash with gifts from the munificent firms. These freebies range from pens bearing company logos to copious food and drink.

The Second European Influenza Conference, which took place in Malta recently, was no exception. But companies are clearly casting about for novel ways to impress. Points for unintended (we hope) hilarity go to the firm that handed out bath oil beads – packaged in very sharp, pointy little plastic pyramids and thoughtfully placed on the seats of a darkened lecture hall. We are not aware of any serious injuries, though there …